Mayo led by a point at the break, 2-2 to 1-4, and extended that lead to three early in the second half but a tour de force from that juncture on from Kildare, kick-started by five points on the spin, lifted the Lilywhites to a new level with captain Brian McLoughlin’s goal with five minutes to play sealing the deal.

Robinson opened the scoring with a superb individual goal in the fourth minute of the game but Mayo hit back with a goal and a point, the goal coming from Ryan O’Donoghue, to overtake the Kildare men by the eighth minute.

Mayo had the breeze in the opening half but they were guilty of eight first-half wides while Kildare hadn’t one stray shot. Kildare were in control of the half at 1-4 to 1-1 but a second Mayo goal, this time from Paul Lambert, propelled them to a one-point half-time lead – 2-2 to 1-4.

A melee broke out just before the break with two black and two yellow cards brandished, the most significant of which went to Kildare talisman up front, Jimmy Hyland.

Mayo went on to lead by three but Kildare then hit five on the bounce with Robinson to the fore.

Tony Archbold and Aaron Masterson hit lovely scores but there was another kick in Mayo and they fought to get it back to a three-point game but McLaughlin’s goal five minutes from time assured the Kildare side of their passage back to Croke Park.